"The several individuals I know have already found their teammates in order to go as far as possible."

"Others are roughly the same."

"Once someone is the first to form a 'talent partnership', everyone else will be forced to do the same. The provincial tournament follows one-on-one arena rules, so even the strongest talent will suffer in a three-on-one wheel battle."

"The end result is that the strength of the top teams will soar incredibly high, creating a dimensional gap between them and the others."

After saying this, he raised his head and continued:

"For true champions, it's a 'degrading' act that could be considered insulting. But the reality is as it stands, and I must swallow this insult to pay it back double in the provincial tournament."

"Your talent is indeed remarkable, not falling behind even compared to the elites from sects and noble families... Mainly because your taste is quite good too, so I am willing to offer you the opportunity to team up with me."

Du Qing tilted his head a bit: "However, there remains one major issue."

"And that is, the third teammate."

"...Even though I've known this, the experimental school is more mediocre than I imagined."

As he spoke, Du Qing glanced at Leng Shengnan, with a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes: "A key high school, and besides you, there's only one with a purple talent... Not only is the sequence so low, but she even contracted an Ice Fairy with no potential, really dropping our caliber."

"Nevertheless, no need to kick her out, let her stay on the substitute bench."

"I will send a message via 'Ether Network' to Gao Haoran of the Earth Demon Sect soon. He barely meets my standards, and since noble families and sects plan to team up this year, with two talents here, he should come."

"The Celestial Star Sect and Earth Demon Sect split a hundred years ago, but Mystical Techniques can still be complementary. With Gao Haoran's addition, on paper, we wouldn't lose much to other teams, potentially making it to the top eight at least."

This name, Lin Guang knows.

Gao Haoran, True Disciple of the current Earth Demon Sect, holds a status comparable to Du Qing.

If Gao Haoran could join, the experimental school's lineup next year would be unprecedentedly luxurious.

From any angle, this decision poses no harm to Lin Guang and the experimental school, yet Lin Guang shook his head directly, without a shred of hesitation or deliberation.

This left Leng Shengnan, who seemed to have wanted to say something, with a flash of surprise in her eyes; Du Qing was also stunned before countering: "Do you have a better choice?"

"No," Lin Guang said calmly, "I won't replace Sister Leng."

Du Qing frowned: "Why? She's too weak, clinging to the last spot in the talent sequence close to 1,000. Not to mention compared to my rank of 437, Wings of the Morning Star, even now, perhaps you could..."

But Lin Guang just shook his head: "Let's move on from this topic."

"I'm the captain, and personnel changes should be something I discuss with the principal, you don't need to worry overly about it."

"You...!!"

Du Qing was obviously dissatisfied: "Lin Guang, don't you really believe that you could just test the waters next year and it's not late to win the championship the year after, so it doesn't matter?"

"Next year's tournament is completely different, can be counted as one of the most splendid gatherings in Fenghai Province's history, saying talents are abundant, intensely competitive, all major forces across Fenghai Province and other provinces are focused on next year's competition."

His eyes showed a slightly grave expression: "Even given my talent ranking, among them, I can only be considered an upper-mid level. It's said that among the participants this year, there are even those close to the top hundred in talent sequence..."

"Considering next year's intensity, if one can reach the top four, the attention they attract, and various rewards might be more valuable than leading a team to win the championship the year after!"

Du Qing earnestly said: "I wouldn't say much about bringing someone with a talent of six or seven hundred. But a team member with a talent sequence close to 1,000, lacking special effects, without sect and True Man guidance, even the contracted Spirit Beast's potential isn't great, might not even consume the opponent's spiritual power and Ether in matches against those talents."

Lin Guang remained silent.

He felt he understood.

Du Qing in front of him wasn't malicious.

He's just a serious believer in 'talent supremacy'.

And coupled with being a self-proclaimed edgelord, his emotional intelligence is obviously very low.

No wonder he would mock and drive away another purple talent member from the Celestial Star High School, and it's unsurprising why his father Du Tingbei would have such headaches.

But even knowing that he isn't malicious... faced with such a person, Lin Guang still couldn't help but feel aggravated.

Yet Lin Guang couldn't be bothered to persuade him now—since he has legitimate matters to discuss with Sister Leng, he spared Du Qing a glance and pointed to Chelina who was quietly listening behind him.

"According to your logic, if talent is absolute, then considering that you deem my and her talent superior to yours, you shouldn't oppose my judgment."

"If I say there's no need to change, then there is no need to change."

Du Qing froze, closing his mouth, though his brows remained slightly furrowed, the anger on his face indeed faded.

...Indeed, he did what he promised.

However, at this moment, Leng Shengnan spoke.

"If it's unrestricted battle, instead of one-on-one, I wouldn't easily lose."

Upon hearing this, Du Qing raised his eyebrows: "If I recall correctly, you registered only two Spirit Beasts on the tournament list, the other being the equipment-type Spirit Beast, Ice Sword Spirit, which indeed has a pathway to evolve into purple potential."

"But coincidentally, I also have similar equipment-type Spirit Beasts, and two of them at that."

Du Qing looked at her with disdain: "If I were to go all out, summon three Spirit Beasts to form a unity, even if your Ice Fairy held the Ice Sword Spirit, what use would it be? What could you use to block?"

This is indeed where top sects and noble family talents have the greatest advantage.

Even if talent sequence meets the criteria and capacity isn't low, Spirit Masters can bear the burden. But without enough background and strong members of a sect behind them, how could a student who just started senior year possess three Spirit Beasts with purple potential or Evolutionary path?

"You're wrong."

Leng Shengnan said coldly: "Using the Ice Sword Spirit..."

"is me."

"...!"

Silently, Du Qing understood something: "You want to act as a Master of War and coordinate double-line attacks with the Ice Fairy? Do you have a corresponding ice Mystical Technique inheritance?"

Leng Shengnan nodded calmly.

The so-called 'Master of War' refers to the Spirit Master manually wielding equipped Spirit Beasts, which provide certain physical enhancements, ensuring their bodies aren't overly weak, allowing them to participate in skill release during battles, making joint efforts with Spirit Beasts, remaining proactive in countering body attacks, even enabling coordinated Mystical Technique launching to become relatively easier.

It's worth mentioning that very few existing Ancient Martial Spirit Masters (whether they contract Magical Beasts or Spirit Beasts) often also contract equipment-type Spirit Beasts, wearing them while channeling skills of contracted Spirit Beasts internally, which also counts as 'Master of War'.

The difference lies in Ancient Martial Spirit Masters being able to engage in 'Body Refining', though it requires enduring great pain and consuming expensive Spiritual Materials, their body's physical attributes can be updated consistently, turning into humanoid Spirit Beasts, akin to advancing beast transformation secret technique. In contrast, Master of War needs to summon the contractual partner, then merge to receive physical enhancement.

Although it sounds minimal, the difference actually matters; one is continuous enhancement, the other temporary, where life and death might hinge upon that slightest margin.

However, despite sounding as if these two approaches elevate Spirit Master physical security, the truth is otherwise.

Both the Ancient Martial Spirit Master and Master of War need to fight on the frontline, which directly shifts the target of enemy offense and defense to Spirit Masters themselves.

Moreover, Spirit Master's physical enhancement tendencies relate to 'Weapon' types chosen, like swords and blades can strengthen force and speed but not significantly for defense power, meaning a direct strike from same-tier powerhouses might result in instant elimination.

Not only that, Spirit Masters inherently need to handle Spirit Pattern and talent releases, a single lapse due to skill or Spirit Pattern execution might end disastrously.

Consequently, these styles possess considerable danger, requiring potent Spiritual Power for adequate skill control and high demands on personal combat instinct and strategic judgment.

But after several days of sparring, Lin Guang already knows...

Leng Shengnan indeed possesses the talents of such a genius Spirit Master.

Du Qing quietly considered: "In this case, with the unrestricted rules of the provincial tournament... It indeed could unleash your full power, allowing you perhaps to engage me head-on."

"But it's still not enough. As long as I don't get reckless, even hurting me would be wishful thinking."

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